Author Martin Baron has helmed three of our major newspapers as “Managing Editor,” meaning he was in charge of content (i.e., not the business side which is the publisher). His new book, “Collision Of Power: Trump, Bezos and the Washington Post,” is his inside, extremely well-resourced and detailed account of his last stop in that position at the Washington Post (his first two: Miami Herald and the Boston Globe). He was there from 2013 (before Bezos bought the paper) through early 2021, after Trump had left the White House.
You would expect a well-written book, and this one does not disappoint in that respect… or any others. It’s a terrific retelling of events during those dates, mainly from the perspective of his Post position. He pulls no punches, gives us all the inside details he is legally and ethically able to, and winds an enveloping story around himself and those literally hundreds of people who worked under and alongside him. He’s quite good at this, as you would expect.
While his positions on issues are well thought out, he is clearly left leaning, so don’t be surprised at how he treats Trump. His inside account of his and the paper’s dealings with owner Jeff Bezos is one of the most interesting components of the book. Not surprisingly, Bezos was the perfect owner of the newspaper, giving guidance in digital, on-line advancements, and funding whatever was needed to advance the paper to top tier status.
It's a long book, lots of good, interesting details, and he never loses the thread which keeps the story moving. Well worth the read.
Charles K